Emergency Response

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MDE’s Emergency Response Division (ERD) prepares for and responds to emergencies involving oil and hazardous chemical spills, nuclear power plant incidents, and other environmental crises. ERD exists to protect public safety and the environment through careful planning, training, and expert application of emergency response mechanisms to minimize impacts on human health and the environment.

Emergency Response Hot Line (only for cases with Immediate threat to public health and grave impact to the environment): (866) 633-4686.

Responding to Terror Attacks

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has been heavily involved in response to the threat of terrorist attack, in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the subsequent anthrax attacks across the country.

MDE has been working with a variety of facilities to review and discuss contingency plans and terrorism preparedness and verify 24-hour emergency contact information. Security awareness guidelines are being provided to:

Water and wastewater treatment facilities

Chemical manufacturing plants

Other industrial facilities using large quantities of hazardous substances

Petroleum pipelines and bulk storage facilities

High hazard dams

Nuclear power plants and large radiological materials users

MDE will continue to work with local emergency responders, other state and federal government agencies and private organizations to ensure that these facilities are protected against the terrorist threat.

CSX, Norfolk Southern Documents
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In 2014, MDE received requests under the Maryland Public Information Act for documents submitted to the Department by CSX Transportation, Inc., and Norfolk Southern Railway Company in compliance with an order of the United States Department of Transportation regarding Bakken crude oil shipments. After the railroad companies filed actions in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City requesting an order to prevent the release of the documents, the Department agreed to withhold release pending a decision by the Court. The Court has granted summary judgment on all claims in favor of MDE, and the Department has released the documents to those who had filed Public Information Act requests. Those documents can be accessed here.

MDE Secretary Ben Grumbles issued the following statement: "MDE is pleased the judge agreed with our position that the documents should be shared as a matter of public record. MDE is committed to transparency in government and to complying with Maryland's Public Information Act."​​​